State-hop (Mis)adventures 4: Rain or Shine in Manhattan

Aaah finally, I'm going to New York! It's my second week in the US and all's been good even if I lost my phone. I'm not the type who wouldn't be able to sleep without one anyway. The day after I arrived in New Jersey, my favorite Tito and Tita took me on a tour to the Big Apple -- witwiw!

It may not be as cold as Chicago but it made me wear my jacket. Also unlike Chicago, I didn't like New York at an instant. It had to grow on me. Everything there is fast-paced so they say (so as I've seen too), while Chicago's more laid back. New Yorkers and tourists alike are doing walkathons all the time. It was also challenging figuring out the spaghetti-like subway. But it's my kinda challenge.

So what's the catch this time? Day 1 was wet! It was raining!!! Argh! Haaay oh well! I still enjoyed it anyway. I had to haha! I'll let these pictures speak.

New York from Jersey City

At the Liberty State Park

Grand Central Station

1 E 57th Street

"The Mall", Central Park

Central Park

D' Chubibo at Toys 'R Us

Theatre District

Times Square

Other stops: Trump Tower, Macy's, Mac Store, NBC, Olive Garden Times Sq

Luckily, when we returned to Jersey City on the way home, we chanced upon the amazing view of the full moon over the NY skyline.

Caught between the moon and New York City

That was the first day. I still got 4 days in Jersey and I wasn't going to put that to waste. They were planning to take me to Atlantic City but I ditched it and went back to New York for two more days instead.

Unlike what a lot of people would most likely do, I took a different tour. I wasn't able to go to Liberty due to lack of time. Wasn't able to go to Little Italy, Serendipity, Flatiron Building, MET, etc. Instead of going to what my friends recommended, I've decided to go and look for the filming locations of "You've Got Mail" -- obviously one of my all-time favorite movie. The night before NY day 2, I researched the filming spots and listed down their addresses. All of them are in the upper west (where I started to like the city). As soon as I reached Manhattan again coming from Edison to Penn Station (near Madison Square Garden), I got myself a good map and a 1-day unlimited MTA (subway) ticket. Here's what I found on day 2:

Afternoon at Cafe Lalo, where Tom and Meg's character unexpectedly met.

The bookstore Shop Around The Corner is actually an antique and cheese store.

Part of the New York experience is to watch a broadway musical at the Theatre District. Theatre District is a stretch of broadway theatres, movie theatres, restos and bars in midtown Manhattan, where Times Square is. Tita reserved a ticket for me at the Winter Garden theatre, one of the largest in the area, where I'll be watching... (drum rolls)... Mamma Mia! Woot!

Before watching the play, I had to kill time so after having a cup of mocha in Cafe Lalo, I spent a little under an hour walking in Central Park, taking pictures, and lounging on the soft cool grass. At 6:30pm, and still early, I went out to look for Juilliard School.

Juilliard is one of the world's most prestigious school for performing arts. Notable alumni are Miles Davis, Robin Williams, Christopher Reeve, Marcia Cross, Kevin Spacey, John Williams, and The 5 Browns, to name a few. Juilliard is located at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan.

Juilliard School

Ah at long last. It's almost 7:30pm so I headed back to the Theatre District. I was so excited! What Neil said is true: "Pag napanood mo na ang Mamma Mia, mamahalin mo ang Abba!" I absolutely loved the music and how they made it fit into the story. It was fun and hilarious! Then it had a mini-concert at the end, that I got up and without a care, danced to my heart's content. Of course when I returned home and told a good friend about it (you know who you are haha!), he hasn't stopped teasing me since.

Day 3 and my last day in NY. I took the Path train dropping me at the World Trade Center just like what we did on day 1. The Path tracks at WTC actually lies underneath the former towers. The train had gone before the buildings collapsed in 2001. This time around, the train passes around what is now Ground Zero giving you a close view of the construction. Kinda creepy.

On the way to the Path Train. To the left is Newark Airport. Up ahead is NYC.

Ground Zero

After getting off Path, I proceeded to searching for the rest of "You've Got Mail" filming locations. I found the 91st Street Riverside Garden, Starbucks, Zabar's, H&H Bagels, Verdi Square and Gray's Papaya.

Riverside Drive

meet my new friend Ginger

Clockwise from top-left: 91st Street Garden, Starbucks at 82nd St, my hotdog sandwich from (next) Gray's Papaya at 72nd St, Verdi Square where I sat to enjoy my hotdog, and Zabar's at 80th St - a haven for cheese lovers.

The tour wouldn't be complete without seeing New York from the top. For my last stop, I went to the Empire State Building. It was already sunset and I thought that would be a perfect time to see the lights. There were lots of tourists lined up then. It was a 45-minute wait before I was able to go up but it was worth it. The entire city looks gorgeous from the 86th floor (1,050 ft)! Oh and by the way, it's COLD up there! Brrrr

Empire State Building

Upstaged by the Chrysler Building

The lights of Times Square

WTC used to be in this view (South). Can you find the Statue of Liberty?

At 9pm, I called it a night and said goodbye to NY. I went out of the building, bought a few more souvenirs, and took the Subway to Path going to the other side of the Hudson River (Jersey) at the Pavonia station, where my Tito and Tita will be picking me up.

When I reached Jersey and met them, we went to the harbour and took more pictures of the NY skyline. It was also the first time for me to see the Empire State Building at night. The floodlights were Red-White-Blue at that time. They change colors depending on the holiday. Sigh. Now I really heart New York. Hehe.

The next day, I left New Jersey for my last state-hop: Texas, where all my other relatives are waiting for me. From the Newark airport in Jersey, I took a 1-hour flight to Atlanta, Georgia. It was rather a dreaded flight because of some really smelly people beside me (guess the nationality). I had to squeeze myself and press my face on the window just so that I can have even a little escape. The flight from Atlanta to Houston was so much better. This time, I'm around cute little kids. They're cry babies but at least they don't smell awful hehehe.

Touchdown Houston. Oh wow, it was so warm hehe. Parang Pinas but not humid. I also had to wait long for my now-49.5-lbs-suitcase (Whew! Almost went over the limit there - 50 lbs). After getting my stuff, I turned around to check if my folks are there already. I had to wait for another 45 minutes wondering, "Hmm... alam kaya nilang dadating ako?" Hehehe.

It was so good to finally see them when they arrived. They've been visiting the Philippines to see us. Now I'm the one visiting them. I spent a week there, hanging out with my Lolos and Lolas, more Titos and Titas, and my cousins. One of my cousins work at Ben & Jerry's in Sugarland so I get free ice cream too! Of course my favorite flavor is Coffee Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz. Heehee!

I headed back home on May 31 taking off from the George Bush International Airport with a 66-lbs balikbayan box and a 65-lbs suitcase, and still with my carry-on, laptop and cow. It was sad leaving everybody; I actually cried a little while waiting for my ride at the gate. The flight took me to Narita, Japan where I stayed for an hour and a half, and then I finally reached Manila at 10:18pm on June 1.

WOW. As in WOW! The trip was even more surreal when it was over. I couldn't believe that I just spent 3 weeks in the US. I got so excited too about going back to work and working on the things that I picked up from the business trip. And of course, I was excited to see my friends. The one thing that I didn't experience though was jet lag. Hehehe!

Needless to say, the trip was awesome. I wouldn't mind going through the entire thing again if I have to. It's almost like a first-time-everything experience. I got to speak English without anyone noticing me sounding exaggerated. Haha! But most importantly, it openned a lot of new possibilities for me-- new things to try, cultures to experience, and of course places to go.

Now where will my next adventure be? Hmmm... lezgow! ;)